I thought my eyes were deceiving me at first, so I screamed and asked what he was doing, hoping this was some sort of dream. But it wasn’t. Valentin is doing drugs on our bathroom counter. The same counter where he sits me on to kiss me against the mirror. The last few weeks repeatedly played in my mind and I don’t know when he started using, or if he was already using in Mexico when we first met.
All I could do was run out to the living room and try to get my heart to stop beating so intensely. I sit out in the living room for maybe an hour before Valentin comes out. When he does, he looks normal . . . but I know he isn’t the same. He has this look in his eye. Something I’ve never seen from him before.
“Why are you doing drugs?” I question, wanting to know an answer.
Valentin comes stalking up to me. I think for a moment he’s going to apologize, but when his hand wraps tightly around my throat I know that isn’t the case. “I don’t owe you any explanations, Anastasia! You two-faced whore!”
I put my hands over his, trying to pry him away from my throat and gain some leverage somehow. This isn’t the man I know and love. This is whatever drug is coursing through him right now. Shuffling my feet like a nervous duckling I try to get away from him as quickly as possible. If I can just get to the bedroom I can lock it and hopefully whatever this is will be out of his system in a few hours.
I make it four or five feet before I’m being dragged by my hair across the floor. “Valentin, stop it! Stop! I’m Sofia. I’m not her!” I scream out, kicking my legs along the way. I try to position them so I can’t be tugged any further, but I’m maybe half his size. No matter what I do it’s not working. I think digging my nails into the wood will help me stop, but the only thing that does is break one of my nails straight off, causing me to groan out in agony.
“Anastasia, I’m going to hurt you for what you did to our family. Do you understand?!” While the fear tears through my body I can’t help but wonder why he’s speaking in English if he thinks I’m Anastasia.
Valentin plants his hands under me, picks me up and slams me down onto the glass coffee table in our living room. As my back hits it, I feel shards break and hit the floor underneath me. Fuck! There’s no way some of the glass hasn’t dug into my back. The sharp pains prove it.
I freeze, staring up at the lights above me and focus on my breathing. It feels like multiple daggers have been planted into my back. Shutting my eyes I pray to God, apologizing for forgetting to speak to him while I’ve been here in Russia. I pray that he’ll save me from this torture, that he’ll somehow help the man I love realize who he’s harming.
“Valentin, please don’t do this. It’s Sofia, and . . . I love you. Please stop. I’m not her. I’m Sofia,” I plead with tears rolling down the side of my face as I open my eyes. He’s standing over me with a sneer across his face.
“You won’t fool me again, witch! You’re going to pay for what you’ve done to our family!” He picks up the green vase and slams it down on my head. All I feel is pain from the impact of the ceramic and then my world goes dark.
Chapter Eleven
“Because sometimes, all you wanna know is that you’re not fucking crazy for feeling the way you’re feeling, after having gone through all the bullshit you’ve been through.”
~ The Crimson Kin
Sofia
“Is she okay? What did they do to her?!” Valentin sounds shaken as he asks the man in front of me in a white lab coat these questions. I move my neck to the left and right seeing I’m no longer on the floor of our living room. Instead I’m on the couch.
“Your fiancée is very lucky, Mr. Volkolv.” The man tells Valentin just as it hits me. He asked this man what they did to me. Doesn’t he mean what he did?
I lift my head up even though the pain is excruciating and glance down to my stomach. I don’t know what I’m looking for at first, not until I realize I fell back onto the coffee table. Any cuts I have would be on my back, not on the front of my stomach.
“Sofia, my God. You’re awake. How do you feel, my love? Where does it hurt?” Valentin takes my hand into his, looking at me with worry-filled eyes. He’s either the best actor on the planet or has no recollection of what he did last night.
I suck in a deep breath and tell him the truth, “Everywhere.”
“You must have a guardian angel watching over you, young lady. Somehow your puncture wounds didn’t hit anything vital and I stitched you up. Your head on the other hand, I’d say you need to rest for a few days.” The physician informs me.
If what I went through proves anything it’s that I have anything but a guardian angel watching over me. I’d love to fire the one who’s supposed to be doing that job because obviously they need to be replaced. “Do you remember anything about who broke in?” Valentin asks, sincerely meaning it.
I really think he doesn’t remember anything. In our time together he’s lied to me once and I caught him because he was horrible. It made me wonder how he is so high up in the Bratva if he can’t lie to save his life, but he admitted lying to me was difficult. When he lies to others there isn’t an emotional attachment because they’re strictly business associates. Although, he must’ve gotten better since his drug problem has been under my nose for so long.
“What do you mean?” I question him, knowing if he’s putting on a show he’ll probably slip up here at some point.
Valentin furrows his brow, “Do you not remember? When I woke up in the bedroom the front door was wide open, things were thrown around and you were on top of what remains of our coffee table. Someone broke in, right?”
“Were you asleep?” I ask, wanting to see what he’ll say.
“No, I. The last thing I remember is that I needed to take my medicine. I went into the bathroom and after had sat down on the bed. Must’ve fallen asleep and . . . fuck. I was asleep during everything that happened to you. I am so sorry, Sofia. It’s my job to protect you and I fucking failed,” Valentin explains.
“Is there any video footage of whoever came in our apartment?” I ask. I know very well what happened. I wasn’t the one doing the drugs. Come to think of it, I assumed Valentin was snorting cocaine when I saw him in the bathroom . . . but cocaine doesn’t make you hallucinate and act out violent tendencies. My papá taught my brothers and I a bit about drugs since that is how we were able to get a bit of our fortune. I remember asking him questions about drugs, why people wanted to use them. I will never forget what he said. How sometimes people struggle and need something to take the edge off. While others might go horseback riding, visit the beach or spend time with friends and family. Others take a drink, smoke cigarettes or use drugs. He said even those with the most control will falter at one point or another.
Everything I know about drugs is running through my mind. Cocaine wouldn’t have made Valentin act out in such a way. It would’ve been a hallucinogen. PCP is the most popular to get on the streets, but I imagine it would’ve tasted different. Valentin responding to my question pulls me out of my inner thoughts, “No, they didn’t find a thing which only means one thing unfortunately. Whoever it was knew where the cameras were located. They knew which corners to take to remain unseen.”
The more he speaks is how I can tell he genuinely doesn’t remember any of it. “Ah,” I murmur quietly, knowing every bit of trust I had in Valentin has been thrown out the window. It’s one thing to see the man you love keeping a deep, dark secret but it’s another thing entirely when he hallucinates and calls you his ex-wife’s name. Not only was that bad enough but coming at me in such a violent way. How will I ever be able to trust him again?
I take my hand away from Valentin’s and hold my side, making it look like I’m just in more pain when the reality is I don’t want to touch him. If you ask me, he’s done enough. “I’ve already arranged for our jet to take you and the boys to Ireland. I made a call to Desmond as soon as I found you and told him you three would be en-route to Dublin as soon as possible. I’m sorry for throwing this on you r
ight now, Sofia . . . but I need you to be safe and the only way I can do what I need to is if you’re far away from me.”
“I understand,” I reply quietly, wanting to get as far away from Valentin as possible. At least I’ll have the boys with me, and they’ll be able to be safe as well. They don’t need to be around their father right now. Not when he’s so very unpredictable.
Chapter Twelve
New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings
Sofia
I didn’t complain one bit when Valentin and his driver rushed the boys and I over to the airstrip. There wasn’t one tear shed by me, and I didn’t even touch Valentin in the slightest bit. The only thing I see when I shut my eyes is his fists pounding down onto my flesh. The idea of him touching me again only causes me to shake with fear.
Oh, how I wish things didn’t go the way they did. I love, or loved a man whom I envisioned the rest of my life with. I don’t know if it's possible to fall out of love with someone with one action . . . however is it even possible for me to look past the harm he caused? He was supposed to protect me and he broke that promise.
We left in such a hurry that the boys and I weren’t even able to pack a bag. Valentin simply told us he’d wire Desmond money and we’d be able to fetch some new things when we arrived safely in Ireland. I’ve never met this stranger and normally wouldn’t trust someone so easily, however I don’t have much of a choice. Aleksei and Aleksandr are asleep in their seats, buckled in with two cozy blankets. I on the other hand keep looking out of the window, peeking at the world below through the clouds.
Even as I peer through the glass, I wonder what life would’ve been like if we’d stayed in Moscow. Would I have ever told Valentin the truth about what he did? Or would I have tried to flee? Looking over to these small boys I don’t think I would’ve ever left them there. I don’t think their father is a monster, but he is unstable and that is dangerous.
I shut my eyes and remember the exact way he looked at me when it all started. How his eyes darkened into something unrecognizable. The way his lip curled up before he spat his words out at me. I recollect every small detail I wasn’t paying attention to last night, replaying the horrific event in my mind like a movie.
My back courses with pain from the multiple puncture wounds his doctor stitched up. The doctor kept telling me how I was lucky things weren’t any worse, and even went into detail about how I required stitches. He mentioned the smallest cut was three inches long, so I didn’t have an option to go without stitches like others could. Honestly, I liked how transparent he was being. Although, my head was in a fog.
They both tried to give me some sort of pain medicine but I declined. I didn’t want to feel nothing because it means I’d only forget everything that happened to me. By taking those meds, it would mean I’d give him another chance to do this to me again.
I couldn’t do that, and I never will.
I don’t know what my plan is at this moment, but eventually I’ll figure something out. I only know one thing for sure: I need to figure something out.
“Ma’am, we’ll be descending in about five minutes. Please buckle up,” The stewardess tells me. She’s already seated in her area by the door of the plane.
I pull the pieces of the buckle together and make sure it fastens into place, and draw it a bit tighter so I’m snug. The boys are both buckled up so I won’t worry about waking either of them up.
Within the five-minute window I feel us slowly getting lower and lower. I must admit, flying has never been a favorite of mine. I keep looking out the window as we get closer to the ground, wanting to have some sense of familiarity with the land. I see how the airport isn’t near the city like I assumed it would be. Whenever Valentin spoke of Desmond he referenced Dublin. That is the city, is it not? We seem to be heading toward the countryside.
In the distance I spot some sort of long landing strip and figure that must be where we’re headed. A long building seems to be a little ways off from it. We go further down and now I’m shutting my eyes, at my absolute most dreaded moment when it comes to this. I can feel the wheels come out from underneath us and we’re gradually pressing against the pavement.
I re-open my eyes as we’re finally on the ground and see both of the boys with their eyes wide open. Aleks appears as if he’s going to start crying again. Leaving his father was so hard on him. Aleksei on the other hand has taken it a lot easier, but Aleksei has an interesting relationship with Valentin. The boy makes me feel as if he has an older soul in his body.
The stewardess informs us we can unbuckle but to stay seated for a couple of minutes while they get the stairs sorted. Aleksei unbuckles his younger brother and the moment he does Aleks is rushing over to me and hops on my lap with force. If I said I didn’t feel an ounce of it, I’d be lying. The impact of his weight on my legs rocked through my entire body.
“I’m scared,” Aleks murmurs against the light sweater I’m wearing. He buries his head against my chest to the point where I can almost not make out a word he’s saying.
“It’s okay. I am too.” I reply, running my hand over his back in a soothing manner.
“Miss Ramirez, you may leave the plane now. Your car has arrived.” The stewardess states, so I stand up with Aleks in my arms and Aleksei follows me off the plane. I’m careful to take it slow down the stairwell because with every step I’m hurting more than I did before. Even so, I try to hide my pain. It’s just a reminder of what I won’t allow to ever happen again.
A man stands outside of the SUV with his hands folded in front of him, watching us come down the stairwell. He has on white gloves that make him appear like he’s some sort of butler. His suit wraps around his enlarged muscles and I can immediately tell because of his stature he’s a hired hand of the Mackenzie family.
However, the front door to the SUV opens and I see a man who must be around my age. His hair is a soft ashy brown with a copper tone, while his short beard is purely the red color Irishmen and Scots are known to have. This mystery man looks up at me as my feet hit the pavement and gives me a once over.
I’m sure he can instantly see the purple and blue that covers my face. He draws his lips together as he assesses me but the moment Aleksei runs up to him, I know we’re in the clear. “Uncle Desmond!” Aleksei hollers out, wrapping his arms around the man who’s so kindly provided us a safe haven.
I keep placing one foot in front of the other until I come up to the man, even though it isn’t getting a bit easier. The doctor might’ve told me to rest for a few days but I wanted to get out of Russia as soon as possible. Valentin didn’t argue, especially when I said it would be safer for both the children and I.
“You must be Sofia, I’m Desmond.” He states in a thick Irish accent.
“Nice to meet you.” I instantly reply.
He furrows his brow, “Is it?”
Immediately I regret what I’ve said and curse myself. I’m sure my response looks odd to him. Why would it be nice to meet him when I’m a woman sent here with two young children to keep myself safe?
Desmond opens the door to the SUV, behind the door he came out of and I look to Aleksei, “‘Leksi, let’s get going. It’s been a long day.”
He unwraps his arms from around Desmond and slides across the seat of the car. Meanwhile, I sit Aleks down on the seat and he scoots over to his brother. A sharp pain shoots down my back after Aleks's shoe hits one of my wounds and I’m forced to grab ahold of the car and catch my breath. Breathing in and out slowly I start to get in, but my left forearm is grabbed and Desmond looks directly in my eyes. “You’re bleeding. We’ll get you . . . fixed up when we’re back to my family estate.” He stands behind me as I get in the car and shuts the door for me before he gets in beside his muscle.
One thing I’m starting to realize is that I knew the devil I was dealing with back in Russia. Here I’m faced with a new demon.
Chapter Thirteen
New beginnings are often disguised as painful e
ndings
~ Unknown
Sofia
The entire car ride is filled with silence which is surprising. If anything I expected Aleksei to drum up a conversation with Desmond since he seemed so happy to see him. Yet he didn’t. He remained silent and stared out the window, holding hands with his little brother. I can tell that both the boys are afraid about the uncertainty of their future but they’re facing it with their heads held high like strong men naturally would. I know this might seem crazy, but I have no doubt in my mind that they’ll both grow into fearless men one day.
I’ve also kept quiet while the vehicle has gone over and through hills, passed various country farmhouses and focused my eyes on every surrounding possible. One thing I’m learning is that I need to be prepared for any scenario or situation which may present itself. Never in my wildest dreams would I have anticipated Valentin would harm me in such a way. However, if I had been more cautious maybe it wouldn’t have happened in the first place.
Desmond’s driver whose name I still don’t know turns down a road and within a few seconds we come up to an iron gate. On both sides a white cement wall that must be about six feet tall goes both ways for as far as the eye can see. My guess is we’ve made it to the Mackenzie estate and from first glance I already assume it’s as safe as a fortress.
The gates open and the SUV pulls forward on a white stone driveway. We go in a circle and park directly in front of the home. The doors are something regal, making me think of the medieval era. But I don’t think that’s too shocking considering we’re in the Irish countryside.
Deceptive Love: A Dark Mafia Duet (Mackenzie & Volkolv Book 1) Page 6